Directory
TN Black 
Farms + Gardens  
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The Moore Land project, named in honor of the legacy of historic Tennessee farm landowners Mr. John Moore (1814-1880) and Mrs. Harriet Strayhorn Barksdale Moore (1840-1920), is an initiative to recover history, educate, and save the few remaining small and Black-owned farms in Tennessee.

   

Read our article:   Research: Testimonies of Black-Owned Farms and Gardens in TN       

       

This project is a permanent exhibit and tour on the Moore Family Century Farm featuring outdoor interpretive panels showcasing Black farms and gardens, to encourage you to purchase agricultural products, produce, and services to increase the capacity of the current and next generation of Black Indigenous landowners, farmers, and gardeners.

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According to the Tennessee State Library and Archives, our historical landscape begins with Native Indigenous people as land stewards. Despite the historic obstacles, in 1816, Black free settlers of Free Hill in Clay County began a farming community. By 1850, a Black-owned farm was recorded by the formerly enslaved people of the Ford Family in Washington County.

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The USDA 2022 census recorded approximately 1,500 African American, 1250 Hispanic-Latino-Spanish, and 329 Native Indigenous farmers on 218,022 acres.  From 1910 to the present day, this acreage represents an ownership drop of 28% to 1% marking a disproportionate loss of farmland. This matters because land retention and generational wealth stabilizes our family legacy, identity, and community development.

On Saturday, October 4 , 2025  at 2 pm in Holladay, TN we unveiled a permanent exhibit and tour on the 200-acre Moore Family Century Farm in rural West Tennessee featuring outdoor interpretive panels along a heritage trail to inform, inspire, and instruct the next generation of Black and Indigenous landowners as well as the consumers of agricultural products and produce. 

Read this article about our celebration: Event: Homecoming + Ancestor Day.

335 acres • Lauderdale County • West Tennessee   

Founded in 1920 by Mr. Albert Henry Lockard, Sr., and Mr. Albert Henry Lockard, Jr.

Current Owners: Mrs. Debra Lockard, Mr. Emmitt Lockard, grandchildren

Producers of community supported agriculture, potatoes, collard greens, kale, microgreens, cauliflower, sage, dill, lettuce, radish, wildflower honey, peas, onions

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Best Practices: Education. The Lockard siblings as third generation farmers share and demonstrate practices on sustainability in the rural and urban farming setting. Ms. Lockard shares knowledge on the advances in agriculture. They use solar panels on the farm to educate and equip the next generation how to incorporate  climate smart techniques and technologies for environmental sustainability.

 

Visit website:  https://lockardsproduce.com/                                                                                     

11 acres | 8 acres • Robertson County • Middle Tennessee

Founded in 1958 by Mr. Walter Richmond

Current Owner: Mrs. Ashley Brooks-Hucksold, granddaughter

Producer of chemical-free sunflowers, buckwheat, vegetables, ag education, and tourism events   

               

Best Practice: Diversification. Mrs. Brooks-Hucksold, a great-granddaughter, and fourth generation farmer carries forward the legacy of resilience and regeneration. Mr. Wilton Richmond, worked as a sharecropper and eventually purchased a farm to produce tobacco, soy, corn, and livestock. Today, with 8 acres she reimagined the farm as a thriving agritourism and education destination; hosting immersive farm experiences, community-centered events, and mentorship programs that help other small business owners build sustainable legacies of their own.

 

Visit website: www.rubyshappyfarm.com   

1 indoor acre • Shelby County • West Tennessee

Founded in 2016 by current owner Mr. Daryl Leven

Producer of indoor hydroponically and aquaponically grown leafy greens, herbs, microgreens, and aquaponic education to children and adults.

 

Best Practice.  Conservation. The curiosity around how high-quality food is grown led Mr. Leven to the ancient practice of aquaponics. The process includes growing vegetables and plants above a fish tank in a closed loop system. The closed system uses freshwater beds for fish to produce rich nutrient water to feed growing plants. This process only uses 10% of the water used in conventional agriculture.  Mr. Leven partnered with Spatial Grow to educate children and adults about this efficient food and protein source.

 

Visit website:www.newwayaquaponicfarms.com

18 acres • Hardeman County • West Tennessee

Founded in 2021 by Current Owner Gisele Goff, MD

Producer of seasonal fruits and vegetables. On-site animals include bees, fish, poultry, peacocks, and goats.

 

Best Practice: Wellness Design.  Dr. Goff purchased and recrafted a former farm into a harmonious environment that nurtures the mind, body, and spirit. The farm blends natural elements, open spaces, and thoughtfully designed areas for reflection to cultivate a sense of calm. Farm fresh produce nourishes the body, while spaces of serenity nourish the mind. Water elements are used to anchor the healing spaces, allowing meditation to improve one’s spirit, promoting restoration.  Sassafras Farmacy, the eclectic boutique, offers products that align with the farm's restorative philosophy.

 

Visit website:  www.visitsassafrasfarms.com   

Welcome! The goal of our coalition is to connect the Black Farmers in Tennessee. We will help introduce you to consumers and partners. We plan to inform, inspire, instruct and take care of each other as a way of growing our income and capacity.

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If you know a Black farmer, gardener, or landowner who would like to join or create a free profile, fill out this document https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdM60jniYf10tAFUXnu9x14r0Sr-ISqpzUH-qcdv6AvyCuoqA/viewform?usp=headersend

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check our latest news - Moore Media | Moore Family Farm

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Our Story

In 2015, Mr. Finis Stribling with TSU Department of Agriculture and Ms. Renee Moore-Williams with Moore Family Century Farm began a conversation about increasing productivity of family farms and connecting African American farmers in the state of Tennessee for mutual support, cooperation, and collaboration.

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We were inspired by the history of the TN Black Agricultural Wheel and the TN Colored Farmers Alliance (1882-1891) when 1600 chapters across the state promoted agrarian reform by establishing and addressing cooperatives, education, better prices, market conditions, and self-sufficiency.

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In 2023, Mr. Stribling, Ms. Moore-Williams, Mr. Butler, Ms. Bryant, Ms. Michelle, and Dr. Boyd were interviewed on WPLN radio https://wpln.org/post/episodes/black-farmers-tennessee/ about the story of black farmers. The interview inspired us to begin organizing what we refer to as the "TN Black Farmers Coalition".

Our group is focusing on Education + Mentoring + Business Development + Land Acquisition + Land Retention + Organizational Structure + West, Middle, East Division Support Groups.

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Our leadership team consists of representative from NAPAS, Tennessee State University Agriculture, Zysis Garden, Moore Family Century Farm, Butler Farms, Capernaum Creek Farm, Water Bear Cooperative, Lockard Produce, New Way Aquaponics, Federation of Southern Cooperatives, and Drake Realty.

 

We are Growing

We invite you to invest and participate in this exciting historic initiative opportunities listed below:

       

1) virtual support group

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2) farmer profile portal - https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLSdM60jniYf10t.../viewform

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3) farmer directory- https://www.visitmoorefarm.org/s-projects-basic,

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4) referrals and collaborations for ag funding, marketing, and education.

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5) TN African American farms history permanent exhibit and brochure

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6) TN African American Farming history documentary

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7) annual farmers showcase - https://www.visitmoorefarm.org/post/event-homecoming-reunion

 

8) community supported agriculture enterprises,

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56 acres • Rutherford and Bedford County • Middle Tennessee 

Founded in 1880

by Mr. Joseph Butler and Mrs. Martha Lillard Butler

Current Owner: Butler Family Group

Producer of Angus cattle, goats, and hay

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Best Practices: Generating Returns + Estate Planning. When a highway was built in front of the farm, Mr. Oscar Butler leased some of his land to dig a rock quarry for supplies to build the highway. The unused stone was sold to enable the family to purchase more farmland.

 

Mr.  James Butler Jr. and his sisters, Mrs. Elaine Warren, Mrs. Emily Henry and Mrs. Euleda Faye, current owners of the farm, realized the importance of estate planning when their father, Mr. James Butler Sr., passed away and the future of the farm faced heirs’ property issues. Mr. James, Jr. purchased the shares of the other family members.

 

Visit website: www.butlerfarm.net                                                                                                                                  

316 acres | 69 acres • Rutherford County • Middle Tennessee

Founded in 1940 by Mr.  James Frazier , Mr. Frank Frazier, Mr. Charlie Frazier, and Mr. Fred Frazier

Current Owners: Mr. James Frazier, Mr. Frank Frazier, and Mr. Fred Frazier, brothers                                                                                  Producer of hay, goat, milk cattle, and meat cattle

 

Best Practice: Financial Planning. The Frazier brothers worked as sharecroppers on the same land they eventually purchased from their former landlord. They would receive a “milk check” from the milk plant with a portion applied to the principal to pay off the mortgage.  Around 1980 they downsized by selling some of the 316-acre farm, keeping a 69-acre farm. Today, they sell their meat directly to market stockyards, feeders, and restaurants. They work cooperatively with neighboring farmers and the Farm Service Agency to glean financial strategies and assistance during emergencies.

1 acre • Davidson County •  Middle Tennessee

Founded in 2018 by current owner Ms. Bridget Bryant

Producer of peas, squash, corn, peppers, pumpkin, herbs, cut flowers, herbs, house plants, okra, and potatoes distributed through community supported agriculture.

 

Best Practice: Land Acquisition. The high price of purchasing farmland led Ms. Bryant to utilize a network of community gardens such as Brooklyn Heights Community Garden to manage and grow her produce. Her garden is a certified “River Friendly Farm” which recognizes farmers who take good care of water and land resources while connecting them with consumers. Bridget uses no and low till, compost, cover crops, and cardboard, to enrich the soil, hydrate, and boost nutrients.

 

Visit website:  www.zysisgarden.com                                                        

10.5 acres • Scott County • East Tennessee 

Founded in 2021 by Current Owner Mrs. Sade Jordan

Producer of pasture raised poultry, turkey, and eggs; forest raised pork through community supported agriculture

 

Best Practice: Reinvestment. Due to the economic uncertainty of farming Mrs. Jordan practices financial strategies such as passive income streams, saving, investments, crowd funding, and cooperative economics. She studies alternatives to the present-day struggle of securing the capital to scale up because there are few cost share grants for small scale pastured poultry operations. She is exploring partnerships outside of contract grow chicken for well known chicken brands. She is practicing the basic business model of paying yourself first and returning a high percentage of  profits back to the farm.                                                                                                                                   

Visit website: https://capernaumcreekfarm.wixsite.com/capernaumcreekfarm-1

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